Each year I dedicate one issue of the Just One Thing newsletter to Twelve Good Things that I feel are really worth your attention.
May you and those you love and in fact the whole wide world be truly well, truly happy, and truly at peace.
One
Generosity is natural and if you’d like to give a gift of service to the world this holiday season, consider these worthy aid organizations: Against Malaria Foundation works actively in the prevention of malaria; Food Lifeline works to end hunger by rescuing surplus food; and United for Puerto Rico, which has distributed thousands of pounds of goods to communities affected by Hurricane Maria this year.
Two
Spirit Rock Meditation Center has been my primary personal wellspring of spiritual practice. Check out the workshops and retreats from this peaceful, welcoming, world-renowned center. I’m so impressed with their new spectacular Community Meditation Center, which offers a beautiful space for group practice.
Three
We clearly need internal resources such as mindfulness, self-compassion, and positive emotions. Dharma Seed provides an online archive of talks by hundreds of dharma teachers to steepen our learning curve and nurture all that is naturally good in us.
Four
The Poetry Foundation encourages the soulful presence of poetry in our lives, has a wonderful range of audio poems, and will deliver a Poem of the Day into your Inbox.
Five
The Foundations of Well-Being is my online program for growing an unshakable core of calm, strength, and happiness – for resilience in a changing world. This program is super accessible and practical, you can go at your own pace, and there is a money-back guarantee. Starting January 2, you’ll get the tools you need to grow a new inner strength each week – and in the spirit of the holidays, there’s a $170 discount if you sign up this month.
Six
The Economics of Happiness is a movement to meet real human and ecological needs through focus on local economy and our innate spiritual ties to nature. It’s a positive alternative to the ‘growth economics’ that is ravaging our planet, and uses ‘happiness’ as a viable commodity upon which all societies can prosper. And check out this great TEDTalk by high school economics teacher Elizabeth Salinas: “The Economics of Happiness and the Significance of Joy.”
Seven
The Greater Good Science Center is a world-class resource for compassion, empathy, parenting, and positive psychology. They have a phenomenal Greater Good Magazine, full of useful articles, videos, podcasts, and quizzes. You can offer support by becoming a member, as I have.
Eight
Plan International works in 50 developing countries to lift children out of poverty. My wife and I have supported Plan for over twenty years. Their focus this year is on investing in girls’ education in Africa and protecting children of the displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh. You can support their work by becoming a child sponsor.
Nine
Child Advocates (CASA) and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) programs train volunteers to become champions for child victims of life-threatening abuse, neglect or abandonment. There are local chapters in most states and they’re well worth checking out if you’d like to play a positive role in kids’ lives.
Ten
The Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation raises funds for mindfulness practice centers, international humanitarian relief projects, community dharma sharing initiatives, and monastic health care. This is a wonderful way to ‘share the peace’ and transform suffering for all living beings. Their website also hosts a wonderful blog of Thay’s teachings on mindfulness.
Eleven
Your Skillful Means (sponsored by The Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom) freely offers nearly a hundred methods for psychological or spiritual growth. This is a kind of Wikipedia for mental health tools.
Twelve
Gratitude may be one of the best ways of improving our lives; research shows it elevates, energizes, inspires, and transforms, and it can help us deal more effectively with tragedy and crisis. For a poignant look at how this might play out in real life, check out this TEDTalk by Dr Tanmeet Sethi, who discovered how saying thank you for the things in life you don’t want helped her find peace with her son’s devastating diagnosis of a life-threatening disease.
Twelve times warm wishes to you,
Rick
P.S. Plus a Baker’s Dozen, check out my Facebook or Instagram pages for daily uplifting sound bites, videos, and resources for maintaining positive thinking, open heartedness, and a clear focus on your life’s purpose.